Jewels of Highlands House Tour

 

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Gitana G.

Denver, CO

I just saw an advertisement for the Jewels of Highlands House Tour hanging outside Nostalgic Homes. Mmmm.......

I remember a couple summers ago that they had a "straw bale" house on the tour. It was somewhere east of Federal before Clay, on 38th Ave, south side. Anyway long story short, the house was in the middle of construction. It was torn apart; basically a mess with raw materials and equipment strewn here and there. They should have passed out hard hats. It was a dump; I was expecting Martha Stewart and decorating ideas not hay and mud.

I was a little annoyed.  I could not believe they included this "house" on the "Jewels of Highlands Tour". I know people "volunteer" their residence for charity, but in this case, they should have just said "No, thanks; we will wait until it's finished."

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Elite '08

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186

Carrie R.

Denver, CO

This annual home tour raises funds for the Denver School of the Arts. (Yes, this seems odd since DSA is in Park Hill and this tour takes place on the opposite side of town. But who am I to question such things. It also seems like there's a "the" or two missing somewhere in the name of the tour, but again, I know nothing.)

With 9 astounding historic places on the tour this year, I can only imagine that it will be wonderful year after year. It was founded by the owners of the Lumber Baron Inn, which is apparently featured on the tour every year. From their loving and astounding restoration of a previously condemned Victorian on 37th Ave., you know they have an eye for what makes the Highlands area so great.

While the wow factor of the homes on the tour was undeniable, I have to be honest and say that the event lacked organization. Given that it is a fundraiser, you have to give some wiggle room for amateur planners, but if they went on other neighborhood tours they might learn a few things: like publicize the same starting time in all advertisements (not 11 am in some places, noon in others), make it clear where and when you can purchase advance tickets (I tried to buy mine directly from the school, prominently listed as a place to buy tickets, and was turned away), get a certain traffic flow going through the homes (present in some, not all).

I will say that I spoke with the owners of the Lumber Baron, Julie and Walt Keller, since their number was on the tour's website. They were wonderful to deal with and very kindly helped me out with my ticket snafu although they are not the planners themselves and were in no way responsible.

I hope that the planners can work out some kinks in the coming years. But even if they don't, and they keep the same caliber and diversity of homes in the future, I will highly recommend this tour for anyone who loves historic homes, regardless of the inconveniences!

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